The Church and its Doctrine

Doctrine is essential to the life of the church as food is essential to the life of a body, or as breathing is to the lungs. In the Bible God tells us about who He is, what He has done, what He will do, why we are here, what He expects of us, how we can know Him, and how He wants us to live so that He is pleased. He also tells us history, where the world is headed, and how to make sense of life this side of heaven. The Scriptures are filled with all that God intends for us to know in order to be all that He has called us to be.

However, theological interest and precision has fallen under hard times. The churches of modern times are more interested in subjective experiences than objective truth. Pastors are becoming social commentators and political pundits rather than preachers of righteousness. Clear and convicting sermons are being replaced by short, anecdotal, and non-confrontive homilies.

Sadly, it does not matter to many what the church believes and teaches as long as it is a place where they will feel accepted and tolerated in "non-judgmental love." We must have a commitment to the truth, and we must recover Biblical authority and its place in the church. Without truth we are like ships without a map or compass, "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14).

What do the following verses teach about the importance of doctrine in the life of the people of God?

• Psalm 19:7-9
• 1 Timothy 3:15
• 2 Timothy 2:15
• 2 Timothy 3:15-17
• 2 Peter 1:3-4

(review our Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Statement)